Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 16, 2020
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Officials Present:
Gary Konrath – Chair John C. Prevoznik – Solicitor
Peter Gonze – Vice Chair Ingrid DeWitt – Secretary
Reda Briglia - Supervisor
Pledge of Allegiance
Konrath led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Public Comment Statement
Konrath read the public comment statement “Ladies and gentlemen, before the Board of Supervisors votes on any matter, the Board will allow for public comment on that particular item. If you wish to be heard at that time, please raise your hand, and you will be recognized.”
Konrath stated that the meeting is being recorded for the limited purpose of preparing the official minutes.
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the March 2, 2020 Board of Supervisors regular business meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Treasurer’s Report
Briglia read the Treasurer’s Report.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the March 16 Treasurer’s Report as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Unfinished Business
Wyndham Hills – Konrath explained to the residents in attendance the Township’s plans for creating an emergency access from the Wyndham Hills Community (Wyndham Drive) through to Green Chapel Road to the Wood Acres Community (Wood Acres Drive formerly known as Cardinal Drive). Residents from the Wood Acres Community had questions and concerns regarding the access road. Residents in attendance were Pat Brienza, George and Dianne Leo, Carey and Eric Hockman, Bill Snyder, Jim Wagner, Steven Matula Jr., and Kim Kizer. A resident asked if a No Outlet sign could be put up on Wood Acres Drive.
There was discussion on where the gate(s) to the emergency access would be installed. Konrath stated that the proposed intention of the emergency access was for major emergency events only. Also, discussed next steps to develop a plan for an access way for review at a subsequent meeting. Further, Konrath stated that the planned access is intended to have a gravel sur . He said that it is for emergency use and to provide access for first responders. Residents in attendance will be notified in advance when this returns to the agenda.
Work Session Items
Jason Smith, Hanover Engineering -
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve Jason Smith, Hanover Engineering to go to Mount Airy Casino, LLC to inspect the buffers and follow up on any items needed to complete his report.
Motion carried 3-0.
Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule a work session with Jason Smith, Hanover Engineering, Dave Osborne, LaBella Associate, Frank Browne, FX Browne and Jeff Belardi on April 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. with a May 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. as a backup date.
Motion carried 3-0.
Planning Commission Items
Animal Husbandry – Chapter 160-12A (3)(b) – Gonze questioned the “no rooster” clause of the proposed changes as the proposed ordinance states that you may breed chickens, which would be contradictory to the no rooster clause. Required minimum acreage for chickens was discussed. The ordinance is to be sent back to the Planning Commission for revisions. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the definition of small animal should be revisited also.
Other Business/Public Comment
Mr. Hockman asked the Board for information regarding the Township using Host Compliance to identify Short Term Rentals in the Township. Gonze explained what Host Compliance does and gave an update on the progress that he and Solicitor Prevoznik have made in terms of signing an agreement with Host Compliance. Mr. Hockman also questioned if there were any revisions to the Short Term Rental Ordinance before the Board. Gonze stated that the Short Term Rental Ordinance was still with the Planning Commission. Mr. Hockman asked about the possible rezoning of districts from residential zone to B-3 or B-4 District. The Board stated that it would have to go back to the Planning Commission. Gonze explained that the redistricting was put on hold until after the recodification of the Ordinances.
Unfinished Business
Landowner Agreements – Konrath stated that the Township has received 8 of the 11 Landowner Agreements back. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Township could extend the permit that was due by the end of 2020.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve directing Skelly and Loy to apply for an extension on the permit due to expire on December 31, 2020.
Motion carried 3-0.
Wyndham Hills – The Board further discussed the emergency access road to go from Wyndham Drive to Green Chapel Lane to Wood Acres Drive (formerly Cardinal Drive). The Board discussed hiring Terry Martin to survey the easement that will become the emergency access road.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to hire Terry Martin, Martin and Robbins Professional Land Surveyors to survey the access road to be used as the emergency access from Wyndham Drive to Green Chapel Lane to Wood Acres Drive (formerly Cardinal Drive).
Motion carried 3-0.
Ski Haven Lake Estates – Konrath stated that the Township has received no response from the Board of the Ski Haven Lake Estates Property Owner’s Association.
Gonze requested that a copy of the letter(s) sent to Pocono Township in regards to the Ski Haven Lake Estates Bridge issue to be sent to Taylor Munoz the new Pocono Township Manager.
New Business
Easter Egg Hunt – Konrath stated that it may be necessary to cancel the Easter Egg Hunt amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC guidelines states there should be no more than 10 people gathered at one time for the next few weeks which includes the date of the Easter Egg Hunt.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve Konrath, at his discretion, to cancel the Easter Egg Hunt as it may become necessary per COVID-19 pandemic CDC guidelines.
Motion carried 3-0.
Other Business/Public Comment
COVID-19 Pandemic – Kevin Transue, Paradise Township EMC stated that he contacted Bruce Henry at Monroe County Office of Emergency Management to question whether they had any recommendations as to how the Township should handle the Corona Virus Outbreak. Transue stated that Mr. Henry said the County is following the CDC Guidelines and Governor Wolf’s directives. The County is not putting forth any further directives at this time. Gonze asked if the County office had access to supplies such as sanitizer, gloves or disinfectant. Transue said that he did not ask but would follow up.
Unfinished Business (Continued)
Host Compliance – Gonze further updated the Board on where the Host Compliance Agreement stood. Gonze explained that he submitted Solicitor Prevoznik’s comments on the agreement document to Host Compliance and did receive a response however he felt that he would need to have a voice conversation with the attorney from Host Compliance to finalize the agreement.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve Konrath to sign the Host Compliance agreement on the satisfaction of Gonze’s conversation with Host Compliance’s attorney.
Motion carried 3-0.
Cohen Law Group – Gonze stated that he spoke to Planning Commission Chairman Dave Brown and Brown stated that it is likely that the next Planning Commission meeting on April 14, 2020 will be canceled due to COVID-19 guidelines however he requested if a call was to be made to Cohen Law Group that they be able to attend via conference call.
Reports
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik had no further comments.
Engineer – Mr. Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering did not paint the road yet where the Traffic Calming devices are supposed to go on Route 191 but they would do that in the near future. Mr. Unangst stated that the PenDOT office in Southeast PA is closed and believes the same would happen in Northeast PA in which case the Stites Tunnel Bridge may not reopen at the previously proposed date. Mr. Unangst stated that the materials needed for the security door to be installed at the Township building would be delivered on March 19, 2020.
EAC – Konrath stated that the meeting was scheduled for March 18, 2020 however he believed it would be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfinished Business (Continued)
Roadmaster - Konrath stated that the Roadmaster Mike Mader requested approval to hire C.W. Price for two additional days to finish the tree trimming of large trees in the Township that cannot be done by the Township’s road crew. The cost per day is $1200.00.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve contracting C.W. Price for two additional days at a rate of $1200.00 per day for a total of $2400.00.
Motion carried 3-0.
Konrath stated that Roadmaster Mader received an estimate to repave Woodland Road in the future. The estimate was in the amount of $900,000.00.
Other Business/Public Comment (Continued)
COVID-19 Pandemic – The Board discussed whether to close the Township building to the public in the interest of health and safety as of Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to close the Township building to the public in the interest of health and safety as of Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. until further notice.
Motion carried 3-0.
Executive Session
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze to recess the regular meeting and go into an executive session.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Briglia to reconvene the regular meeting.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that real estate was discussed and no decisions were made.
Motion carried 3-0.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Transcribed by Tina Transue, Secretary from the recording.